C. L. Fornari's Blog
I Love Cuphea hybrid ‘Cupver’, aka Cuphea Vermillionaire
Name: Cuphea hybrid 'Cupver' aka cigar plant, Cuphea Vermillionaire, firecracker plant Type of Plant: This Cuphea is an annual in northern...
Advice for Garden Clubs Re: Virtual Meetings
Since the pandemic hit, we are gathering virtually; attending church services online, having cocktails with friends, and visiting with friends or...
I Love Pennisetum purpureum ‘Tift 8’ aka Vertigo Fountain Grass
Name: Pennisetum purpureum ‘Tift 8’ aka Vertigo fountain grass Type of Plant: An annual grass in colder climates (hardy in Zone 8-11) that’s tall...
I Love Myrica pensylvanica aka bayberry
Name: Myrica pensylvanica aka bayberry Type of Plant: Native shrub or small tree for full sun and sandy soils Why I Love/Hate this plant: In dry...
Why The Pandemic Might Save Your Organization
As a speaker and a plant geek, I present programs to garden clubs, horticultural societies, and assorted other groups. Many of these organizations...
I Love Variegated New Guinea Impatiens
Name: Variegated forms of Impatiens hawkeri aka New Guinea Impatiens Type of Plant: Low-maintenance annual that grows to about 12 inches tall. Why I...
I Love Pugster Dwarf Butterfly Bush
Name: Buddleja davidii 'SMNBDBT' aka Pugster dwarf butterfly bush. Type of Plant: A dwarf butterfly bush that blooms prolifically through the...
Love Silver Moon Hyacinth Vine
Name: Dolichos lablab ‘Silver Moon’ aka Lablab purpureus ‘Silver Moon’ Type of Plant: A fast growing annual vine that you can grow from seed. Why I...
What’s In Bloom, August 22, Sandwich, MA
Yesterday I spent about an hour touring our property and taking a photo of every plant that was in bloom. Okay, not every plant, and not every...
I Love Mecardonia GoldDust
Name: Mecardonia GoldDust Type of Plant: An annual from Proven Winners that is heat tolerant, long-flowering, and totally low-maintenance. This...
What’s Making Me Happy in Mid-August
This morning I was on Mindy Todd's program on WCAI/NAN, and mentioned a few things that were making me happy. Here are some of those plants and more...
Pycnanthemum muticum aka clustered mountain mint
Name: Pycnanthemum muticum aka clustered mountain mint Type of Plant: Spreading perennial that is hardy in zones 4 to 8 and appreciates moist or...
I Love Rutgers Devotion and Rutgers Obsession Basil
Name: Rutgers Obsession DMR and Rutgers Devotion DMR Basil Type of Plant: Basil plants that have been bred (no, not GMO!) to grow prolifically and...
When Life Mingles With Art
In the 1970's my mother-in-law, Misa Fornari, lived on Long Island. A friend of hers was a rep for various artists and crafts people, and at some...
I Love Cosmos sulphureus ‘Bright Lights’
Name: Cosmos sulphureus 'Bright Lights' aka sulphur cosmos. Type of Plant: Summer-flowering annual for full sun. Why I Love/Hate this plant...
Garden Sushi With Flower Power
One of the gifts that the pandemic brought to my house is the return to making our own sushi rolls. In the early months of not shopping much I found...
Love Plants and Gardens? Want to Write, Speak, or Podcast About It?
Sometime ago I put up the graphic posted below, about how I came to be a garden communicator. Although I've always loved plants and gardens, it...
Preserving Home Grown Garlic
In this area the garlic is commonly pulled from the garden in early July. We bundle ours up and hang it in our shed for two to three weeks to cure,...